Shelf and shelf assembly

Abstract

An expandable shelf comprising a male member and a female member which are slidingly engaged, each of the members having longitudinal and transverse axes and each being divided into at least two corresponding sections along the transverse axis. Adjacent sections of the male member are separated by a groove parallel to the longitudinal axis, the male member comprising a row of spaced teeth extending from each section into the adjoining groove, the teeth of one section being aligned with the teeth of the adjacent section, each of two adjoining teeth defining a slot therebetween. The female member has an upper wall and has an aperture in the upper wall positioned above the groove when the male and female members are engaged. Also disclosed are a shelf assembly and a method for mounting a shelf onto a shelf assembly.

1 . An expandable shelf comprising a male member and a female member which are slidingly engaged, each of said members having longitudinal and transverse axes and each being divided into at least two corresponding sections along the transverse axis, 
 adjacent sections of said male member being separated by a groove parallel to the longitudinal axis, said male member comprising a row of spaced teeth extending from each section into the adjoining groove, the teeth of one section being aligned with the teeth of the adjacent section, each of two adjoining teeth defining a slot therebetween, and    said female member having an upper wall and having an aperture in said upper wall positioned above said groove when said male and female members are engaged.    
     
     
         2 . A shelf according to  claim 1  further comprising a rivet having a shank, said shank having a width, the width of said shank being substantially equivalent to the length of said slot of said male member, 
 wherein when said male and female members are engaged, said rivet is inserted into the aperture of said female member occupying two aligned slots of adjoining sections of said male member, thereby fixing said members one to the other.  
 
     
     
         3 . A shelf according to  claim 1  wherein each of said male and female members comprise three sections.  
     
     
         4 . A shelf according to  claim 1  wherein all of the parts of said shelf are manufactured from substantially rigid plastic materials.  
     
     
         5 . A shelf assembly comprising: 
 (a) two parallel upright members having sides facing each other;    (b) a support member fixed to each of said upright members on their facing sides, said support members being positioned opposite each other; and    (c) a shelf having lateral ends with edges adapted to slidingly engage said support members.    
     
     
         6 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said shelf has an upper and a lower surface and each of said lateral ends have upper and lower edges which perpendicularly protrude above and below said upper and lower surfaces, respectively.  
     
     
         7 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said support member has a longitudinal axis and comprises upper and lower tracks in parallel to said longitudinal axis to receive the edges of said shelf.  
     
     
         8 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said tracks are horseshoe shaped so as to prevent said edges from escaping said tracks.  
     
     
         9 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said support member is removable from said upright member.  
     
     
         10 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said support member and said shelf are manufactured from substantially rigid plastic materials.  
     
     
         11 . A method for mounting a shelf onto a shelf assembly, said shelf assembly comprising: 
 (a) two parallel upright members having sides facing each other;    (b) a support member fixed to each of said upright members on their facing sides, said support members being opposite each other; and    (c) a shelf having lateral ends with edges adapted to slidingly engage said support members;    said method comprising sliding said shelf onto said support members between said upright members.    
     
     
         12 . A plastic shelf which has an upper and a lower surface and two lateral ends, each of said lateral ends having upper and lower edges which perpendicularly protrude above and below said upper and lower surfaces, respectively.  
     
     
         13 . A plastic support member for a shelf having lateral ends with edges, said support member having a longitudinal axis and comprising upper and lower tracks in parallel to said longitudinal axis to receive the edges of said shelf.  
     
     
         14 . A support member according to  claim 13  wherein said tracks are horseshoe shaped so as to prevent said edges from escaping said tracks.  
     
     
         15 . A shelf assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said shelf is an expandable shelf comprising a male member and a female member which are slidingly engaged, each of said members having longitudinal and transverse axes and each being divided into at least two corresponding sections along the transverse axis, 
 adjacent sections of said male member being separated by a groove parallel to the longitudinal axis, said male member comprising a row of spaced teeth extending from each section into the adjoining groove, the teeth of one section being aligned with the teeth of the adjacent section, each of two adjoining teeth defining a slot therebetween, and  
 said female member having an upper wall and having an aperture in said upper wall positioned above said groove when said male and female members are engaged.